Manila, July 2 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has served 302,561 free meals through its Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) program since its launch in 2024 until the first half of 2026, as part of the government's efforts to end hunger, according to an agency report released Thursday.

The DSWD opened its first WGK in December 2024 inside a former Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Pasay City, and later expanded it with branches in Cebu City, inaugurated on June 22, and Zamboanga City, which opened on June 29.

"Ang direktiba kasi ng ating Pangulo is humanap ng napakaraming mga pamamaraan para mawakasan natin ang kagutuman (The directive of the President is to find various means to end hunger). From the...